There’s always next year
Pro won the toss and batted on a hot, humid day with some threat of a storm. We had plenty of support in a crowd which I reckoned to be at least 400, but were soon in trouble against the opening seam attack. Tom Nightingale was moved up to open and was first to fall in the 4th over. Left armer Freeman was proving a handful and dismissed Reg, Phil and Tom Barber cheaply to leave us at 46-4 in 15 overs. Worse was to follow as Pro came down the wicket to Summers and was stumped (62-5). Aaron Blackmore gave one chance early on but by this point had moved on to 30 and seemed to be our last hope. Support at the other end was needed and it came from Binga who shared a partnership of 77 with Aaron to give us just a sniff of a chance. Del Boy came in to make an important 15 off 14 balls and get us up to 164. Aaron was out with 4 overs left just nine short of what would have been a richly deserved ton. Surely the innings of the season for the club. He faced 90 balls and hit 12 fours and three sixes.
Astwood Bank pulled out most of the stops to make it a great day out for all, and clearly they attract some very good players despite an outfield which should be designated a site of special scientific interest. The reason why they are able to attract players became clear at the break. It is the cakes. Meringues with cream and raspberries or strawberries, and not just bought meringues, homemade ones with just the right amount of stickiness in the middle. Perfect homemade profiterolles, and in the corner, untouched till halfway through tea, a Victoria Sponge which was quite simply the best I have ever tasted.
Enough of this. A score of 164 made our hosts favourites but we weren’t out of it by any means. We were going to need wickets early on but the openers made a solid start, putting on 41 in 15 overs. Number 3 bat Robinson joined opener Sealey and took the score to 60 before Sealey, who had looked very assured, was stumped off Tom Nightingale. The rate needed was creeping up to 5 an over but Astwood Bank remained comfortably in control. The next wicket came at 97 courtesy of an outstanding catch by Tom Nightingale, but fron there on it it was pretty straightforward, and the target was duly reached with four overs remaining.
It’s been a great run with some sweet tasting victories against the likes of Ansley and then Exhall & Wixford. Great individual and team performances, and though we felt we could have done better today, it’s no disgrace to have lost to very strong opposition. We wish them the best of luck in their upcoming games. Interesting that they play Northants champions Stockton in the next round and that this will be a last 16 tie between two clubs whose grounds both located in Warwickshire!
The Astwood Bank report is supposed to be here but the link doesn’t work. Can’t be asked to fix it. It’s about as good as their outfield but nowhere near as good as their cakes!
Geoff
We have had a bit of interest from local horticulturalists but we blame it on huge moles and the land fill site across the road. That and Meteorites.
If we play you next year it may even be flat! We are hoping for a dry enough post season to enable the levelling of it (should have been done last year hence the mess by the nets!)
As for the cakes. Too right. Did you see the size of some of our players? If we had salads we’d be even better.
Seeing as your link doesn’t work thought i might help you out with our match report. I’m no literary genius but i’m not sure it quite merits a comparison with our defunct outfield….
ABCC v Fillongley
Astwood Bank again looked forward to hosting a bumper crowd as the entertaining National Village Cup returned to the Bankbowl. The champions of the Leicestershire and Warwickshire group Fillongley were the opponents on what promised to be a fine summers afternoon.
With the usual long debate about what to do should we win the toss, captain Dan Sealey duly lost it and was asked to field by the Fillongley skipper. The wicket looked good and a high scoring match looked to be on the cards. However, as often proves to be the case in Village Cup matches, nerves appeared to get the better of the batting side.
Fillongley got off to a disasterous start when a good length delivery from Tom Harris was chipped tamely to the Bank captain Dan Sealey at mid-wicket by the Fillongley opener. Dennis Freeman then ripped through the top order with excellent figures of 3 for 25 which included an excellent catch from Jonny Summers. When Jon Summers finally dismissed the nervous looking Fillongley number 6 with a cleverly flighted delivery it looked as though the game was getting away from the visitors as an early finish looked to be on the cards. The Fillongley number 4, Blackmore, had other ideas and his efforts gave Fillongley a fighting chance of posting a defendable total. He ended with 91 well crafted runs with a number of lusty blows against the Banks spin bowlers.
When Blackmore finally fell, the visitors innings crept up to 164 all out in the final over, a below par score but one that could be defended with a few early breakthroughs. The Astwood Bank seam attack were the pick of the bowlers, each bagging 3 wickets.
A place in the last 16 looked well within reach at the halfway stage but the batsman didn’t let this distract them in their well paced run chase. Openers Dave Sewell and Dan Sealey got the innings off to a steady start until Sewell fell to a good catch after attempting to guide the ball through gully. Alex Robinson then partnered Sealey at the crease and looked solid in defense early in his innings. The innings suffered another slight blow when Sealey was stumped leaving the hosts 60 odd for 2.
Bryan Melliard then came to the crease and put away some loose leg side bowling from the Fillongley spinners before being caught at cover to an excellent diving catch. The hero from the last round, Stef Jagielski, came in with another 60 runs required for victory. His partnership with Robinson, who by this time had his eye in and reached his half-century, saw the Bank to within a few runs of victory before Jagielski was bowled looking to finish the game with a big hit. Andy Alexander came in but it was Robinson who finished the game with a quickly run single that saw the hero take a nasty blow on the back from the fielded ball. Bank ended up winning with a margin of 6 wickets and a healthy four overs to spare.
The next game is at home to Northamtonshire’s Stockton on Sunday 12th July.
Yes, it would be nice if we played you again next year. You should see the outfield now after the hot weather this week!!
I think we are a very good batting side, reasonable bowling side but a dreadful fielding team. A tip if we play again, just push and run you will not be run out!!
Ahhh guys……….WTF..
Anyway good effort to get tot he national stage again…and here’s to next year.
As for Hilversum : struggling a bit towards the bottom of the Dutch Eerste Klasse but we’re in there and enjoying it ! Keep going in the leagues..JD